By Nosa Eresoyen, Asaba

The approval granted Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASSUS) Delta State to operate as a levy-collecting union has sent shock waves through the state wing of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT). 

 In a swift and sharp reaction to the development,  the leadership of the NUT in the state in a  statement signed by Mr. Joe Iyalekhue,  Principal Assistant Secretary General of the Union, and one Ubiebe Oghebrume,  secondary school teachers were advised that if they have given their consent in waiting to ASUSS to deduct levies from their salaries, such deduction does not exempt them from having NUT dues  deducted from their salaries in addition.

 The statement averred however that effect from October 2017, or any other months following,  any secondary school teacher that has not voluntarily given his/her consent in writing for such levy to be deducted, but observed that levy was deducted from his/her salary, such teacher should contact the nearest NUT branch officer of his/her Local Government Area. 

 Expectedly, NUT had also in the statement averred that the check-off dues of all the teachers in the secondary and primary schools in Delta State will continue to be deducted, and paid to the NUT until ASUSS is duely registered as a trade union. 

 In a letter addressed to ASUSS by the state directorate of establishment and pensions, office of the head of service, signed by one C.I. Nwodi, reads: “I am directed to inform you that by the consent judgment of the National Industrial Court, Enugu, following the out of court’s settlement of 17th December 2013 in suit No NIC/EM/63/2013, His Excellency has approved the recognition of the Academic Staff Union of Secondary School (ASUSS) Delta State as an Association, by this approval, the Association is entitled to fix, and collect levies from members. 

 The leadership of NUT however stated as follows; secondary school teachers are invited to NOTE that ASUSS is not registered trade union, but an Association, and as such cannot collect union dues, the peace agreement reached by both parties led by Barr. A.O Odum as brokered by the state government stipulated that NUT is the only recognized union for primary/secondary school teachers while ASUSS is an association, ASUSS can only fix, and collect levies from secondary teachers who voluntarily gave their consent in writing which however should be verified by head of service office, adding that the levy is not replacement by NUT dues rather an addition. 

 But in a swift reaction, an official of ASUSS, Ojebor .F. dispelled NUT’s claims as untrue, adding that ASUSS was working with the ambit of the constitution, law and the approval granted its operations